Question 1

Is Smythes Creek a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Smythes Creek, on the outskirts of Ballarat, sits among rolling farmland, roadside gums and the creek that gives it its name. It keeps a quiet country feel with hobby farms, farmhouses and a scattering of older weatherboard homes rather than suburban streets, so people tend to choose it for space, privacy and a rural pace of life. Services within the locality are limited, with shops, schools and larger facilities found in nearby towns, and local roads provide straightforward links to regional centres for work and recreation.

About 1,762 people live in Smythes Creek and the median age is 38, with a median household income of $2,132 per week. The community is weighted towards families — couple families with and without children account for about 89% of families — and dwellings are largely owner-occupied, with roughly nine in ten owned outright or with a mortgage and 9.6% rented. A Ross Creek/Smythes Creek community planning process led by Golden Plains Shire is working on local priorities such as activating the recreation reserve and hall, strengthening partnerships with the school, Landcare and the neighbourhood house, and environmental protection. Whether that fits what you want in a suburb depends on your priorities.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Smythes Creek?

Accepted Answer

At a median house price of $650,000, buying in Smythes Creek works out to about 5.9 times a typical local household's annual income as recorded at the last Census, which puts buying somewhat above local incomes.

If you are looking to rent, a house rent of $470 a week would take roughly 22.1% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, a moderate share. On these figures renting looks less stretched than buying, but whether that feels expensive depends on your own income and circumstances.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Question 3

Is Smythes Creek a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

House values in Smythes Creek climbed a strong 11.5% over the past 12 months, while house rents rose a more modest 4.4% in the same period. The figures show capital growth has outpaced rental income on the house side this year, so the choice between chasing price appreciation or rental returns is the main distinction the numbers reveal.

Which matters most to you depends on your own goals and circumstances; use these movements as one piece of information when weighing Smythes Creek as an investment.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	$650K	N/A
Change in value Past 12 months	11.5%	N/A
Sold Past 3 months	19	N/A
Median days on market Past 12 months	43	N/A
Average rent Past 12 months	$470	N/A
Change in rent Past 12 months	4.4%	N/A

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